Pipe forming apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

Apparatus and method for making completely rounded pipe cylinders of selectively different diameters and wall thicknesses, with a minimal change-over time loss. The invention includes a combination of press and cylinder roll including a floating roll, press roll, drive rolls and stabilizing rolls, so interrelated and interacting to form a complete circular pipe cylinder from flat stock. The method entails the use of various diameter removable or floating rolls appropriate for changes in diameter of pipe cylinder, or wall thickness of pipe cylinder to be formed, with no appreciable time loss in the change-over from one end product to another.

United States Patent 91 i [111 3,738,149

' Archer 51 June 12, 1973 PIPE FORMING APPARATUS AND METHOD [57] ABSTRACT [76] lnvemofi Route BOX Apparatus and method for making completely rounded MISS 39301 pipe cylinders of selectively different diameters and [22] Filed: Oct. 1, 1971 Wall thicknesses, with a minimal change-over time loss.

The invention includes a combination of press and cyl- 21 Appl. No.: 185,497

inder roll including a floating roll, press roll, drive rolls and stabilizing rolls, so interrelated and interacting to 52- 'u.s. Cl. 72/171, 72/368 form a complete circular p p y e from flat stock- 51] Int. Cl B2ld 5/14 The method entails the use of various diameter remov- [58] Field of Search 72/51, 171, 368 able 0f floating rolls ppropri e for changes in diameter of pipe cylinder, or wall thickness of pipe cylinder [56] References Cit d to be formed, with no appreciable time loss in the UNITED STATES PATENTS change-over from one end product to another. 1,509,134 9/1924 Freeze 72/171 28,147 5/l860 Boardman 72/51 Primary Examiner-Lowell A. Larson 7 4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Atz0rneyDavid H. Semmes PAIENIED m i 2 w SHEET 3 (W 2 INVENTOR BILL ARCHER ATTORNEY PIPE FORMING APPARATUS AND METHOD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A need exists for apparatus and method which will permit forming any size pipe from flat plate, and in different diameters and wall thicknesses. I-Ieretofore, in order to meet demands for different sizes of pipes large quantities of all sizes of necessity had to be acquired and stocked. Apparatus useable for manufacture of pipe of different sizes requires substantial change-overtime between production of different pipe sizes.

Some previous known methods for forming pipe involved a U and process, which is involved, and other known apparatus does not permit forming a complete circle in long lengths.

The present invention teaches a solution to the problems existing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION The present invention teaches apparatus and method for forming completed circle pipe cylinders from flat plate, and in which sizes varying in diameter and wall thickness can be formed economically with a minimum of change-over-time.

In accomplishing the purpose of the invention a combination press and cylinder roll is utilized. Of the essence is the utilization of a floating roll interacting with press rolls and stabilizing rolls which in operation permit the formation of a complete pipe cylinder from flat plate. The floating rolls can be easily and readily removed and replaced with floating rolls of different diameters in the same basic machine to accommodate for pipe cylinder diameter changes and or wall thicknesses of pipe cylinders to be formed.

Additional and further objects and advantages of the invention will be morev readily apparent from the following detailed description of an embodiment thereof when taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of apparatus of the present invention; and

FIGS. 2A-2E inclusive are schematic views depicting a sequence of operations followed in practicing the invention.

Referring now in more detail to the drawings there is shown a combination press and cylinder roll, including a press beam mounted by press cylinders 12, which can be hydraulic, for raising and lowering the press beam. The press cylinders are appropriately attached or mounted on beam posts 14 at opposite ends of the machine. The press beam is a longitudinal member rather than a transverse press beam concept as in previous known constructions. A press roll 16 is appropriately associated with press beam 10 and vertically movable therewith.

Of the essence of the invention is a floating roll 18 which is removable and or replaceable by floating-rolls of different diameters for manufacture of different sizes of pipe cylinders.

Referring to FIG. 2A a flat plate 20 to be formed into a pipe cylinder is fed from one side of the machine, by means of plate positioner 22, between floating roll 18 and drive rolls 24 which are supported from the floor along their entire lengths and which are driveable in opposite directions.

Press beam 10 also mounts stabilizing rolls 26 positioned on opposite sides of press roll 16 and which are hydraulically extendable or retractable, as will appear hereinafter, using the same source of hydraulic pressure.

The operation will be described with reference to FIGS. 2A-2D inclusive. In FIG. 2A, the floating or removable roll 18 is placed and positioned and held at each end at the press beam posts 14 in a manner that it can be lifted so that the flat plate 20 can be put in place by the plate positioner 22 coacting with drive rolls 24.

In FIG. 2B, the press beam is moved down with the press cylinders 12, press roll 16 presses down on floating roll 18 and bends the plate to form around floating roll 18 at the bottom, in conjunction with drive rolls 24. The plate outside the rolls l8 and 24 takes a position perpendicular to a line from the center of floating roll 18 to the center of the left drive roll-24. As shown, the

drive rolls, supported at the floor for their entire length,

are power driven to rotate in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction.

In FIG. 2C, as shown, the drive rolls 24-are rotated in a clockwise direction until the right edge of the plate 20 has passed under stabilizer roll 26 on the right. At this position, the plate should be sprung away from floating roll 18 due to springback inherent in elastic metals. Stabilizing rolls 26 are hydraulically tied to the same power source. In this view, the stabilizing rolls 26 are in the retracted or up position carried by the stabilizing cylinders 28 so that the right edge of the bending plate 20 may pass under stabilizing roll 26 on the right.

Sequentially, as shown in FIG. 2D, the press beam 10 is lifted a desired amount, depending on plate thickness plus an increment. The stabilizing rolls 26 are pressed down simultaneously, with equal pressure from press beam 10. The plate 20 is pressed against floating roll 18 by stabilizing roll 26 on the right. Drive rolls 24 rotate clockwise to roll the right edge of plate 20 under press roll 16.

Subsequently, stabilizing rolls 26 may be retracted, press roll 16 pressed down, drive rolls 24 rotated clockwise to complete bending the plate into a cylinder around floating roll 18.

Floating roll 18, with the plate, may then be moved out of position onto the plate positioners after hydraulically lifting the press beam up with the press cylinders to clear the plate around roll 18.

After floating roll 18 with the plate is removed, the floating roll 18 is slid out of the bent plate. The bent plate may be inserted back between press roll 16 and drive rolls 24, FIG. 2E, the open ends press together by press roll 16 at a position from the vertical, and tack-welded or completely welded to form a pipe or cylinder. The pipe may then be rotated betweenpress roll 16, stabilizing rolls 26, and drive rolls 24 at a fixed position of the rolls to round the pipe to true round.

Of significance in the invention is feeding the plate from one side, the retracting stabilizing rolls 26, and the longitudinal press beam. 10 in lieu of transverse press beams. Of the essence is the floating roll 18 and the interaction of press roll 16 and stabilizing rolls 26 as described.

Extreme pressures may be exerted by press roll 16 across floating roll 18 to drive rolls 24. The required pressure of stabilizing rolls 26 to cause the edge of the plate to pass under press roll 16 is much less. After the plate passes under press roll 16, stabilizing rolls 26 are retracted, press roll 16 activated, and the rolling process completed.

One of the main problems of forming pipe of the type involved is the high pressures needed to form the starting edges. The present apparatus permits such operation.

It is, also, to be noted that floating roll 18, press roll 16, and drive rolls 24 are continuous over the length of the machine. Stabilizing rolls may also be continuous.

Manifestly, minor changes and modifications in the details can be effected in the shown and described embodiment of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, as defined in and limited solely by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Method of making pipe cylinders from flat plate in a combination press and cylinder roll, comprising:

A. feeding a flat plate between a free rotating upper floating roll and lower spaced driveable support rolls;

B. pressing the floating roll downward on the plate by a press roll to initially bend, by coaction there between and the support rolls, the entry end of the plate around the floating roll while driving the plate with the drive rolls;

C. continuing to feed and bend the plate around the floating roll by driving the drive rolls;

D. engaging the plate bent around the floating roll therebetween and a first stabilizing roll proximate and on one side of the press roll;

E. retracting the press roll and passing the leading edge of the bent plate there under;

F. engaging the bent plate leading edge under a second stabilizing roll above the floating roll, proximate and on the opposite side of the press roll from the first stabilizing roll; and

G. re-engaging the press roll and continuing driving of the bent plate to form a complete cylinder around the floating roll.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, including the further steps of:

A. releasing the press roll to disengage the pipe cylinder,

B. removing the floating roll;

C. turning the pipe cylinder to place an opened snap back gap substantially on a horizontal line bisecting the pipe cylinder;

D. lowering and applying pressure to the pipe cylinder through the press roll to compress and close the gap; and

E. rotating the cylinder to true the cylinder shape between the press roll, stabilizing rolls and drive rolls.

3. Method of making pipe cylinders from flat plate as claimed in claim 2, for different sizes of pipe cylinders and wall thicknesses, including substituting floating rolls having different diameters commensurate with the different pipe cylinders to be formed.

4. Method of making pipe cylinders from flat plate in a combination press and cylinder roll, comprising:

A. feeding a flat plate between a free rotating upper floating roll and lower spaced driveable support rolls, the longitudinal axis of the floating roll being intermediate the longitudinal axis of the support;

B. pressing the floating roll downward on the plate by a press roll having a longitudinal axis vertically aligned with and above the longitudinal axis of the floating roll to initially bend, by coaction there between the floating roll and the support rolls, the entry end of the plate around the floating roll while driving the plate with the drive rolls;

C. continuing to feed and bend the plate around the floating roll by driving the drive rolls;

D. engaging the plate bent around the floating roll therebetween and a first fluid pressed stabilizing roll above the floating roll, proximate and on one side of the press roll;

E. retracting the press roll and passing the leading edge of the bent plate there under;

F. engaging the bent plate leading edge under a second fluid pressed stabilizing roll above the floating roll, proximate and on the opposite side of the press roll from the first stabilizing roll; and

G. re-engaging the press roll and continuing driving of the bent plate to form a complete cylinder around the floating roll. 

1. Method of making pipe cylinders from flat plate in a combination press and cylinder roll, comprising: A. feeding a flat plate between a free rotating upper floating roll and lower spaced driveable support rolls; B. pressing the floating roll downward on the plate by a press roll to initially bend, by coaction there between and the support rolls, the entry end of the plate around the floating roll while driving the plate with the drive rolls; C. continuing to feed and bend the plate around the floating roll by driving the drive rolls; D. engaging the plate bent around the floating roll therebetween and a first stabilizing roll proximate and on one side of the press roll; E. retracting the press roll and passing the leading edge of the bent plate there under; F. engaging the bent plate leading edge under a second stabilizing roll above the floating roll, proximate and on the opposite side of the press roll from the first stabilizing roll; and G. re-engaging the press roll and continuing driving of the bent plate to form a complete cylinder around the floating roll.
 2. A method as claimed in claim 1, including the further steps of: A. releasing the press roll to disengage the pipe cylinder, B. removing the floating roll; C. turning the pipe cylinder to place an opened snap back gap substantially on a horizontal line bisecting the pipe cylinder; D. lowering and applying pressure to the pipe cylinder through the press roll to compress and close the gap; and E. rotating the cylinder to true the cylinder shape between the press roll, stabilizing rolls and drive rolls.
 3. Method of making pipe cylinders from flat plate as claimed in claim 2, for different sizes of pipe cylinders and wall thicknesses, including substituting floating rolls having different diameters commensurate with the different pipe cylinders to be formed.
 4. Method of making pipe cylinders from flat plate in a combination press and cylinder roll, comprising: A. feeding a flat plate between a free rotating upper floating roll and lower spaced driveable support rolls, the longitudinal axis of the floating roll being intermediate the longitudinal axis of the support; B. pressing the floating roll downward on the plate by a press roll having a longitudinal axis vertically aligned with and above the longitudinal axis of the floating roll to initially bend, by coaction there between the floating roll and the support rolls, the entry end of the plate around the floating roll while driving the plate with the drive rolls; C. continuing to feed and bend the plate around the floating roll by driving the drive rolls; D. engaging the plate bent around the floating roll therebetween and a first fluid pressed stabilizing roll above the floating roll, proximate and on one side of the press roll; E. retracting the press roll and passing the leading edge of the bent plate there under; F. engaging the bent plate leading edge under a second fluid pressed stabilizing roll above the floating roll, proximate and on the opposite side of the press roll from the first stabilizing roll; and G. re-engaging the press roll and continuing driving of the bent plate to form a complete cylinder around the floating roll. 